The ‘Beat Plastic Pollution JA’ competition was kicked off by the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) and partners on World Environment Day, June 5.

It is a joint United Nations initiative aimed at highlighting the urgent need for action to reduce plastic pollution, which is a major challenge in the Caribbean and globally.

The competition, will run until June 23, sees Jamaican students demonstrating “the urgent need to work across the plastic life cycle and articulate different strategies to reduce and reuse plastic”

JAMAICA’S YOUNG people are being given an opportunity to identify or otherwise champion solutions to the growing problem of plastics pollution, with the launch of the competition dubbed ‘Beat Plastic Pollution JA’.

The competition was kicked off by the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) and partners on World Environment Day, June 5.

UNEP seeks nominations of changemakers working on plastic pollution solutions.

The UN Environment Programme call for nominations for its annual 

SPEECH DELIVERED BY LIGIA NORONHA, ASSISTANT-SECRETARY GENERAL AND HEAD OF NEW YORK OFFICE ON BEHALF OF INGER ANDERSEN

SPEECH DELIVERED BY: Inger Andersen

FOR: International Day on Zero Waste

My thanks to Türkiye for spearheading the first International Day on Zero Waste. The UN Environment Programme and UN Habitat are proud to be facilitating the observance of this day.

International Day of Zero Waste, observed for the first time on 30 March 2023 and jointly facilitated by UNEP and UN-Habitat, aims to raise awareness of the importance of zero waste and responsible consumption and production practices and urban waste management contributing to achieving sustainable development.

Assessment Report for Select Countries in Respect of the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol)

The project will support countries in addressing the pervasive nature of plastic litter and solid waste management, either directly or indirectly, via programmes aimed at creating the policy, legislative and institutional capacity to reduce and manage plastic waste.

The Sandals Foundation has produced a video highlighting the main activities of the Whitehouse and Bluefields Solid Waste Reduction Project in Jamaica.

The Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund announces NOK 20 million for projects to reduce plastic pollution outside Norway. Countries with major plastic pollution challenges and limited resources will be prioritised. Applications open on the 15th of October, and the announcement is open to both Norwegian and international actors.

The Caribbean is home to more than 700 islands and coastal countries that are connected by a shared resource - the Caribbean Sea. 

This Sea forms the lifeblood of the region’s tourism, maritime and fisheries industries.   However, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, valuable coastal and marine resources are under increasing threat from land and marine-based sources of pollution.